Match report

Bristol City Draws 2-2 with Preston in Championship

Bristol City
Bristol City
2–2
FT
Preston
Preston
May 3, 2025

Bristol City narrowly held off Preston to secure a hard-fought draw in the latest clash of the Championship. Despite trailing early with two goals from Preston, Bristol City showed remarkable resilience and skill to equalize through R. McCrorie's brace.

Key Facts

  • • Final Score: Bristol City 2 - Preston 2
  • • E. Riis opened the scoring for Preston at minute 28, assisted by R. Brady.
  • • M. Osmajic extended Preston's lead to 2-0 with a goal in the 60th minute, set up by B. Whiteman.
  • • R. McCrorie scored both goals for Bristol City at minutes 69 and 74, assisted by Nahki Wells and Jason Knight respectively.

Lineups

Bristol City

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 M. O’Leary (G)
  • 19 G. Tanner (D)
  • 16 R. Dickie (D)
  • 14 Z. Vyner (D)
  • 7 Y. Hirakawa (M)
  • 8 J. Williams (M)
  • 12 J. Knight (M)
  • 2 R. McCrorie (M)
  • 6 M. Bird (F)
  • 10 S. Twine (F)
  • 21 N. Wells (F)

Substitutes

  • 40 G. Earthy
  • 11 A. Mehmeti
  • 24 H. Roberts
  • 29 M. McGuane
  • 30 S. Armstrong
  • 23 S. Bajić
  • 20 S. Bell
  • 31 E. Morrison

Preston

Formation: 3-1-4-2

Starting XI

  • 13 D. Cornell (G)
  • 14 J. Storey (D)
  • 6 L. Lindsay (D)
  • 19 L. Gibson (D)
  • 4 B. Whiteman (M)
  • 29 K. Kesler-Hayden (M)
  • 18 R. Ledson (M)
  • 11 R. Brady (M)
  • 16 A. Hughes (M)
  • 28 M. Osmajić (F)
  • 9 E. Riis (F)

Substitutes

  • 22 S. Þórðarson
  • 20 S. Greenwood
  • 12 C. Evans
  • 26 P. Bauer
  • 2 R. Porteous
  • 41 L. Stowell
  • 31 T. Mawene
  • 3 J. Meghoma

Timeline

  1. Preston
    ?' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    Theo Mawene

    Unallowed field entering

  2. Preston
    22' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    Ryan Ledson

    Foul

  3. Preston
    28' Preston Goal · Normal Goal
    E. Riis · Assist: R. Brady
  4. Preston
    32' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    R. Brady

    Foul

  5. Preston
    50' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    K. Kesler-Hayden

    Time wasting

  6. Bristol City
    57' Bristol City subst · Substitution 1
    Off: S. Twine · On: G. Earthy
  7. Bristol City
    57' Bristol City subst · Substitution 2
    Off: M. Bird · On: A. Mehmeti
  8. Bristol City
    58' Bristol City subst · Substitution 3
    Off: G. Tanner · On: H. Roberts
  9. Preston
    60' Preston Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Osmajic · Assist: B. Whiteman
  10. Bristol City
    69' Bristol City Goal · Normal Goal
    R. McCrorie · Assist: Nahki Wells
  11. Preston
    72' Preston subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Ryan Ledson · On: S. T. Thordarson
  12. Bristol City
    74' Bristol City Goal · Normal Goal
    R. McCrorie · Assist: Jason Knight
  13. Preston
    78' Preston subst · Substitution 2
    Off: M. Osmajic · On: S. Greenwood
  14. Bristol City
    80' Bristol City subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Joe Williams · On: Marcus McGuane
  15. Bristol City
    84' Bristol City subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Nahki Wells · On: S. Armstrong
  16. Preston
    84' Preston subst · Substitution 3
    Off: R. Brady · On: Ched Evans
  17. Bristol City
    90'+1 Bristol City Card · Yellow Card
    R. McCrorie

    Foul

Match Stats

Stat Bristol City Preston
Fouls 7 9
Pass Accuracy 86% 64%
Offsides 1 0
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 18 18
Corners 7 3
Total Passes 557 241
Yellow Cards 2 4
Blocked Shots 7 9
Shots on Target 2 5
xG 1.89 1.46
Shots off Target 9 4
Possession 70% 30%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 477 154
Shots Inside Box 8 9
Saves 3 0
Shots Outside Box 10 9

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Preston took the lead early with a goal from E. Riis in the 28th minute, setting the tone for their initial dominance.
  • ▸ Bristol City's double substitution midway through the second half shifted momentum and led to R. McCrorie’s brace which leveled the match.